French interior minister promises crackdown on illegal rave parties
Key takeaways
- Organisers said they chose Nunez's hometown of Bourges to protest against a proposed bill increasing penalties for unregistered raves.
- The unauthorised rave known as a "free party" kicked off on Friday at a firing range near the central French town of Bourges.
- Organisers said that up to 40,000 people from France and neighbouring countries partied at the firing range, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez put the turnout at 17,000.
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French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez vowed on Sunday to crack down on illegal raves as he visited the area in central France where a massive free party was held on a military base despite authorities' warnings about the risk of unexploded mortars. Organisers said they chose Nunez's hometown of Bourges to protest against a proposed bill increasing penalties for unregistered raves.
By: FRANCE 24 France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez speaks to the press during a presentation of the fire brigade's deployment related to a rave party at a military site in Cornusse, near Bourges, central France on May 3, 2026. © Kenzo Tribouillard, AFP France's interior minister vowed Sunday a crackdown on illegal raves as he flew over a giant party at a military site that defied warnings about the risk of possible explosions.
The unauthorised rave known as a "free party" kicked off on Friday at a firing range near the central French town of Bourges.